Multicultural Voices: A Journey of Self-Advocacy and Cultural Identity
Introduction to our story tellers:
When you're navigating high school with a disability, every day brings its challenges. But for these four young advocates, Ky, Brian, Mahad, and Khalid, their journey of finding their voice meant bridging multiple worlds where:
English isn't their first language
their families are learning to navigate new systems
their cultures view disability differently than Western society.
In this powerful 10-minute conversation, they share their honest stories of transformation - from feeling 'lost' and 'going through the motions,' to discovering how to speak up, step out of their comfort zones, and create change in their communities. Their experiences shine a light on the often-overlooked intersection of disability, advocacy, and cultural identity, revealing both the complexities and the resilience required to navigate cultural expectations, language barriers, and systemic challenges.
Key Themes
As these four young advocates from Uganda/Kenya, Somalia, Mexico, and Vietnam share their experiences, three powerful themes emerge through their honest conversations:
the cultural and language barriers they faced in the education system
their personal journeys of developing self-advocacy skills
the transformative impact of finding supportive communities
From one advocate's innovative approach of using Google Translate to overcome language barriers in the classroom to another's powerful realization that "setbacks have fueled me to be a better person," these stories demonstrate the resourcefulness and resilience required to advocate effectively in multicultural spaces.
The conversation reveals both universal truths about self-advocacy and unique cultural insights - like how some communities "believed disabilities and neurodiverse diversity exists only in Western countries." Through their experiences, these young leaders address critical questions that many multicultural students with disabilities face:
how do you build confidence when English isn't your first language?
what happens when cultural perspectives on disability clash with educational expectations?
how do you balance family traditions with self-advocacy needs?
Where do you find community support during this journey?
Impact for different audiences:
These stories hold unique insights for everyone working to create more inclusive educational spaces.
Questions for Students and Self-Advocates:
Watch how these young leaders turned their challenges into strengths. As one advocate powerfully shares, "Step out of your comfort zone. That's the first step you need to take." Their stories demonstrate that while the journey may feel overwhelming at first, small steps - like asking teachers to write down instructions or joining school clubs - can lead to powerful transformation.
Questions for Families:
These narratives echo the complex journey many families face when supporting young advocates while navigating new systems and cultural expectations. One parent's experience of learning about disability only after arriving in the United States reflects a common challenge: They did not get this education in their respective home countries. These stories show how families can build understanding and support their children's growth as advocates.
Questions for Educators and Professionals:
These perspectives offer crucial insights into creating truly inclusive educational spaces. When one advocate shares how "some teachers told me I couldn't go to college," it highlights the impact of expectations on student success. Understanding how cultural perspectives, language barriers, and family dynamics influence advocacy can help educators better support multicultural students with disabilities.
Through these stories, we see how a strong community creates space for authentic self-advocacy. As one advocate explains, "Community requires people being able to communicate honestly with each other without having to deal with unnecessary walls." This truth guides us toward creating more inclusive and supportive spaces for all.
Join the Conversation
Take ten minutes to hear these honest conversations about:
- Moving from feeling 'lost' to finding your voice
- Turning cultural and language barriers into sources of strength
- Building communities that support authentic self-advocacy
- Creating pathways for meaningful change
Press play to hear four voices that are changing the conversation about disability, culture and education – one story at a time. Connect with your local parent center to learn more about supporting multicultural youth in their advocacy journey. Together, we can create spaces where every voice is heard, every story matters, and every advocate can thrive.